Some points of view about the 1920s have changed over the years but many have remained the same. This is not to say that the ideas were missed completely but the emphasis on each specific reason has changed.
Most of the historical perspectives touch on similar themes. The first that is usually noted is the role of women. The decade started with the progressives changing things and nothing was bigger. This started with suffrage and the new found right to vote. This expanded into other things. “The flapper image dominates the popular perception of women in the 1920s” (Goldberg). This exemplified the new emphasis in fashion and beauty. There was also changes in women in the workplace and even attitudes towards birth control. All of these changes have been well documented. Many historians, however, have debated how much all of this changed the lives of women. (Goldberg)
The historical perspectives did not change very much regarding the move away from progressive ideas as conservative values started to take hold. People were starting to tire of reform and reformers. (Noggle) Much of this happened over differences in opinions between those residing in rural versus urban areas. This was seen in two overarching themes that have been common in most studies, Prohibition and the influence of religion.
Prohibition is mentioned in every work of Prohibition and many mention how it was a byproduct of the push back against progressives and free lifestyles that many considered immoral. Over time, there were underlying themes that were discussed. One of these was how Prohibition was actually anti-Catholic while under the guise of a religious movement (text). It was also an anti-immigrant movement. Both these were connected because, at the time, there was an influx of Irish-Catholics that were the latest target of discrimination.
Religion had a large influence in the rise of religion and this is something that is pointed out in many historical perspectives. It is typically noted as a factor in Prohibition. It is also discussed as an influence during the two presidential elections of the 1920s. One of the biggest influences that is often taught is the Scopes trial which was about whether Creationism can/should be taught in schools. One item that is often not consistently discussed is the role of conservatism and the rise of the KKK. Bigotry in the United States is something that has always existed but also something that many try to ignore or refute, leading to its omission.
One thing that did seem to change over time from different historians was the economic changes that took place in the 1920s. Many people were disillusioned after WWI and didn’t want to be involved in international affairs, however, this decade started a shift towards global trade. Businesses were also adjusting during this time to the new trends and the new world (Noggle). While the economy was a topic touched on by many historians, the focus is turned inward and discusses only the United States but not the globalization that started during the decade.
Most of the major topics and issues discussed by historians about the 1920s are similar. However, there were some topics that were not discussed during one time period, but were at a later date. Some of these topics were brought up because time has shown the dependence of a certain topic on future decisions or events.
Bibliography
David J. Goldberg, “Rethinking the 1920s: Historians and Changing Perspectives,
Download Rethinking the 1920s: Historians and Changing Perspectives,Open this document with ReadSpeaker docReader” OAH Magazine of History, (July 2007), pp. 7-10.
Burl Noggle, “The Twenties: A New Historiographical Frontier
Download The Twenties: A New Historiographical FrontierOpen this document with ReadSpeaker docReader,” The Journal of American History (Sept. 1966), pp. 239-314
Jordyn Baham is a senior at Ramapo College studying Photography with a minor in Museum and Exhibition Studies. She takes the Discovering Digital History class in Spring 2025.
